187
"Courage and sacrifice?"
The Monarch of Decay lowered the newspaper in his hands, looked at Amon, and asked again, "You want to learn courage and sacrifice?"
Amon touched his eye socket. "Not learn, exactly. I just want to understand what they actually are."
"Did your father say this to you?"
"Yes."
"Very simple. Let me ask you a question." The Outer Deity calmly returned his gaze to the newspaper. "Since this is what your father expects of you, would you be willing to die for him?"
"..." Amon adjusted his monocle again, his usual smile on his face. "Is there any context? I mean, what would I have encountered that made my death necessary, and what would my death accomplish?"
"No context is necessary." The Monarch of Decay turned a page. "You only need to tell me whether you would be willing."
"...Every one of me would die?"
"Yes."
"Would Father resurrect me afterward?"
"Ask your father that when the time comes."
"..." Amon pondered for a while, then slowly found somewhere to sit and lean back. His brows furrowed, and the masklike smile on his face took on a troubled look as he thought. He remained silent for an exceptionally long time-so long that the Outer Deity finished the entire newspaper and picked up a book before Amon finally spoke. "I won't know until that moment comes."
"I think I would run away. Father was once half a Great Old One, so his spirit should also be an indelible imprint, existing eternally within his Pathways. He will return someday. Since he already exists eternally, whether his physical body survives doesn't seem to matter very much. I would try to avenge him. If I could still be resurrected, dying for Father would not be unacceptable. If he were unwilling